Advertise on podcast: The Lead with Jake Tapper

The governor of California, one of the main Democrats floated, perhaps more than anyone else, as an alternative to Joe Biden, Gavin Newsom joins. Is he all in on President Biden's reelection bid? Gov. Newsom also discusses how he is trying to fix the problems in his state such as illegal immigration and skyrocketing homeless numbers. Plus, after two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, are Putin and his forces closer to threatening a NATO country in European territory? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden shares unfiltered remarks on what he really thinks not just about Putin but also Donald Trump. Nikki Haley joins this hour to discuss the latest in the presidential race. Plus, an investigation is launched into a widespread cell phone outage. What cut service for so long for tens of thousands of AT&T customers?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden appears to be possibly on somewhat shaky ground after the Justice Department alleged that the former FBI informant who appeared to have dirt on President Biden was actually peddling lies and getting his dirt from Russian intelligence. Plus, at look at the woman with the dual U.S.-Russian citizenship who was detained in Russia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new warning from the Biden administration is that tough new sanctions are on the way for Russia for both the war in Ukraine and for the suspicious death of Putin's prominent critic Alexey Navalny. This as the Kremlin insists Navalny's remains cannot be released. Why not? Plus, what sources are now telling CNN about President Biden's new aggressive plan to go after the “crazy” statements that Donald Trump makes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The widow of Alexey Navalny shares a new message for Russians to not be silent. She is accusing the Kremlin of hiding her husband's body, alleging that he was poisoned and urging Russians to take to the streets after his death. CNN is in Russia as police are rounding up hundreds of people mourning Putin's fiercest critic. Plus, the late night skit that has disgraced former congressman George Santos coming after Jimmy Kimmel in court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an absolutely staggering financial penalty for Donald Trump, a New York state judge ordered the former president and his companies to pay nearly $355 million for committing fraud. The judge found that Trump submitted “blatantly false” financial data when he applied for loans allowing him to get more favorable rates. There is one small victory in the ruling for Mr. Trump, the judge is not ordering the dissolution of the Trump organizations as prosecutors had asked for.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Georgia election subversion case against Donald Trump and 14 of his allies took a stunning turn when two top prosecutors testified under oath about their romantic relationship. Allegations of self-dealing have the potential to derail the indictment. However, nothing that happened today undercut the factual allegations against Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, or the other GOP allies who are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A woman was shot five times by deputies after they mistook her for an intruder. She was not. Thankfully, she survived. We have the new body cam video and her attorney, Ben Crump, is in studio. Plus, after nine years away, Jon Stewart is back behind his desk managing to get under the skin of some Democrats. Also, voters in New York's third congressional district are braving today's winter storm in order to replace former congressman George Santos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two Israeli hostages were rescued in Gaza by the IDF and new footage shows the early morning raid in Rafah. The White House says they’re concerned about some 100 Palestinians reportedly killed in the joint Israeli operation. President Biden makes remarks with the king of Jordan after calling Israel’s actions over the top just last week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kamala Harris is leading the charge to defend President Biden in the wake of a special counsel repot that makes serious allegations about Biden's diminished faculties and faulty memory. He went before cameras yesterday to disprove the point and ended up calling the president of Egypt the president of Mexico. Also, fear grips citizens in in Gaza as Israel signals it is preparing for a new ground incursion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A scathing special counsel report released laid out in detail how President Biden's mishandled classified materials. The report includes photographs of documents, showing them kept under his TV in his Delaware home and classified documents about Afghanistan barely stored. However, the special counsel concluded the evidence does not establish Mr. Biden's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore prosecution would be unwarranted. Also, Colorado’s 2024 presidential ballot will likely include Trump after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Republicans in both the House and Senate are in what can be called disarray after failing to keep their party in line on the issues they demanded action on. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin joins to discuss the disfunction. Plus, we are one day away from Donald Trump’s first real case before the Supreme Court. He is trying to keep his name on election ballots in states across country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices